Q&A: Landscaping Issue

Q. I am a condo unit owner who has HOA property near my unit that was overlooked for many years with no landscaping. I have in the past six years slowly landscaped the area. No one from the board has said anything to me. It is landscaped in accordance with the landscaping of the complex.

The board president has a personal vendetta against me and now – after it is complete – has informed me the landscapers have been instructed to remove all my plantings and replace them with two holly bushes. The plantings that I put there are beautiful, and the area is 100 percent improved. Putting the holly bushes there will decrease the beauty of the area I landscaped and waste HOA funding for landscaping that many other areas need.

—Spurned Green Thumb

A. “Under the New Jersey Condominium Act, N.J.S.A. 46:8B et seq (hereinafter “the Act”),” says Anne Ward, an attorney for the firm of Ehrlich, Petriello, Gudin & Plaza in Newark, “a condominium property is divided into common elements, limited common elements, and privately-owned units. The Act says this about common elements:

“The right of any unit owner to the use of the common elements shall be a right in common with all other unit owners (except to the extent that the master deed provides for limited common elements) to use such common elements in accordance with the reasonable purposes for which they are intended without encroaching upon the lawful rights of other unit owners (The Act, 46:8B-6).”

CAI's Community Association Law Seminar is brought to you by the College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL). The program is developed each year as part of CCAL's commitment to advancing the knowledge and practice of community association law.​ The Law Seminar provides a unique learning opportunity to discuss emerging trends and legislative issues important to the practice of community a​ssociation law—as well as excellent opportunities for professional networking. For information, www.caionline.org.

Community association board meetings, committee meetings, and even annual general membership meetings can be successful by taking simple steps to eliminate chaos and confusion. In this webinar, you’ll learn how to keep everyone happy—including the community association member who seems to complain about everything—with seven easy strategies that eliminate tiresome misunderstandings that plague productivity. Register today for a crash course on how to avoid major mistakes that often cause meetings to go off the rails and into disorder. Members: USD $69.00 , Non-Members:USD $99.00. For information, visit www.caionline.org.

What you’ll learn: (1) What asset classes can expect to see the largest margins of growth in 2019? (2) What neighborhoods will the NJ multifamily boom hit next? (3) How will tax incentives continue to attract and retain jobs and development across the state? (4) How can changes to the transit system benefit a growing retail market? (5) How can NJ connect its industrial hubs with the greater suburban community development? For information, visit www.bisnow.com.

Today’s workplace is evolving more quickly than any other time in history. The understanding of what it means to be customer and employee-centric is growing and with these shifts, soft skills have become a more vital part of the equation than technical skills. Critical soft skills such as verbal and written communication, analytical thinking and leadership can all be taught and learned. If you’re a leader looking to learn how to develop your team’s soft skills, or you’re a team member that understands the value of mastering these talents, then this session is for you! Instructed by: Marla Posey, Spark Multifamily Learning + Consulting. For information, visit www.njaa.org.

One of the most visible aesthetic parts of your buildings is the siding. In this webinar we will present the various types of siding available as well as their performance and relative costs. We will also discuss the importance of the siding related to water infiltration. The preparation of replacement specifications and the construction process is also discussed including how the community aesthetics and property values can be enhanced through this process. To request invite, info@kipcon.com . For more information visit Kipcon.com

The safety and security of community association residents and their guests is a common issue for residential communities, but new concerns like increased drug use and abuse, potential active shooter situations, and police and security violence require a new level of education and preparedness. In this webinar, you’ll learn about emerging and essential issues facing community associations and community association managers when it comes to safety and security. Register today to get tools and strategies to limit and mitigate risk within your community, including how to use technology, training, and policies to improve overall resident satisfaction. For information, visit www.caionline.org.

The event that includes a full slate of educational programs, an industry partners expo and networking for real estate professionals! The Only Industry Event Addressing the Needs of Both Multi-Family and Commercial Real Estate Manager. For information, visit www.iremnj.org.

Are you overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work coming at you every day? With a few simple tricks, learn how to prioritize your tasks and work on what’s important. Take control of your daily routine and get more of the right work done with this seminar. Instructed by: Andy Cohen, Rock Properties. For information, visit www.njaa.com.

The Annual Awards Dinner is a celebration of excellence in the community association industry. More than 300 CAI-NJ members will gather to recognize the achievements of both members and our chapter alike. $150 per person; $1,350 for a table of 10. For information, visit www.cai-nj.org.

Now that you have received your bids, how do you make your decision? Which contractor is right for the job and for your community? It is important to have an understanding of what to look for and what types of questions to ask during the selection process. Let us help you gain the knowledge need and discuss details of overseeing the project. We also touch on the bidding process. To request invite, info@kipcon.com. For more information visit Kipcon.com

News

1/18/2019
A look at the residential tower planned for the Sheraton site in Society Hill that neighbors oppose - Philly.com

1/18/2019
A look at the residential tower planned for the Sheraton site in Society Hill that neighbors oppose - Philly.com

Developer Buccini/Pollin Group’s plans for a 31-story residential tower on the grounds of Center City’s Sheraton Society Hill Hotel on Dock Street are moving forward, despite neighborhood opposition to the proposal.
Read full story

1/17/2019
A new Washington Square high-rise? Philly developer tries again to build condo tower over Dilworth House - Philly.com

1/17/2019
A new Washington Square high-rise? Philly developer tries again to build condo tower over Dilworth House - Philly.com

A 12-story condo tower could soon rise above Philadelphia’s historic Dilworth House, according to zoning permits that were issued last month, potentially filling in the last developable lot on Washington Square.
Read full story

1/16/2019
What did Phil Murphy say about NJ's future? Five takeaways from his big speech -Northjersey.com

1/16/2019
What did Phil Murphy say about NJ's future? Five takeaways from his big speech -Northjersey.com

Murphy was criticized last year for giving lip service to property tax relief in his first budget.
Read full story

1/15/2019
Woman In Shadow Lake Fire Dies, Her Daughter Says - Patch

1/15/2019
Woman In Shadow Lake Fire Dies, Her Daughter Says - Patch

The local woman who was injured when a fire broke out in her Shadow Lake condo on Dec. 15 has died, her daughter posted on Facebook.
Read full story

The City of Hoboken has lost another appeal to halt the Shipyard Associates from building the Monarch project, which consists of two 11-story condo towers that would potentially be built on the waterfront.
Read full story

Urban Dictionary defines gentrification as: “When “urban renewal” of lower class neighborhoods with condos attracts yuppie tenants, driving up rents and driving out long time, lower income residents. It often begins with influxes of local artists looking for a cheap place to live, giving the neighborhood a bohemian flair."
Read full story

1/9/2019
Lots of states mooch off New Jersey and your federal tax dollars. And Trump’s tax law could make it worse. - NJ.com

1/9/2019
Lots of states mooch off New Jersey and your federal tax dollars. And Trump’s tax law could make it worse. - NJ.com

New Jersey residents got back just 82 cents for every $1 paid to Washington in 2017, according to a new report.
Read full story

1/8/2019
More people leaving New Jersey than arriving, moving company says - Press of Atlantic City

1/8/2019
More people leaving New Jersey than arriving, moving company says - Press of Atlantic City

It’s a familiar story: residents, sick of the cost of living, pick up and flee New Jersey. Now, one moving company is saying they helped a higher percentage of people in New Jersey do just that than in any other state in 2018.
Read full story

1/8/2019
Government shutdown could lead to millions of evictions - Curbed

1/8/2019
Government shutdown could lead to millions of evictions - Curbed

Entering its third week, and with no end in sight, the partial federal government shutdown is putting millions of low-income tenants who depend on funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at risk.
Read full story

1/4/2019
NJ Tax Amnesty Program Ends January 15 - TAP into Edison

1/4/2019
NJ Tax Amnesty Program Ends January 15 - TAP into Edison

The New Jersey Division of Taxation is reminding taxpayers that the deadline for the New Jersey Tax Amnesty program is January 15.
Read full story

The multi-alarm fire that destroyed several condo units — and briefly trapped an older couple and their grandchildren on a balcony — in a North Brunswick complex last week was started by a Hanukkah menorah, North Brunswick police confirmed the Patch.
Read full story

A security guard at the Shadow Lake condo complex, and a Middletown police officer, pulled an 87-year-old woman out of her burning Shadow Lake condo after it caught fire Saturday night, Middletown police said.
Read full story

12/17/2018
From Westchester to Hoboken, NYC area braces for housing decline - Crain's New York Business

12/17/2018
From Westchester to Hoboken, NYC area braces for housing decline - Crain's New York Business

The tales of housing malaise stretch across metro New York.
Read full story

12/14/2018
More change at Wayne's Brittany Chase, as three condo board members resign - Northjersey.com

12/14/2018
More change at Wayne's Brittany Chase, as three condo board members resign - Northjersey.com

Faced with an ultimatum to resign or be forced from office, three members of the condominium board at Brittany Chase opted for the path of least resistance and stepped aside on Monday.
Read full story

12/11/2018
1 landscaper dead, condition of second unknown after overcome by fumes at North Jersey condo complex - NJ.com

12/11/2018
1 landscaper dead, condition of second unknown after overcome by fumes at North Jersey condo complex - NJ.com

One worker died and another was hospitalized after they were apparently overcome by fumes from a running lawn mower inside a landscaping trailer at a Bergen County condo complex Tuesday.
Read full story

Appointed voters at the Brittany Chase condo complex in Wayne do not have the right to conduct any business before the condo board, other than to vote in this week's election, a state Superior Court judge ruled on Tuesday.
Read full story

12/5/2018
Condo fire in Woodbridge injures 1 person - WABC

12/5/2018
Condo fire in Woodbridge injures 1 person - WABC

Video shows a condo fire the forced several people out of their homes in New Jersey.
Read full story

12/4/2018
Republican tax bill contains early holiday gifts for homeowners. But it has some flaws. - The Chicago Tribune

12/4/2018
Republican tax bill contains early holiday gifts for homeowners. But it has some flaws. - The Chicago Tribune

December is mega-tax-bill time on Capitol Hill, when legislation loaded with gifts and goodies for special-interest constituents moves ahead for action before the end of the year.
Read full story

12/3/2018
Four ideas to bring relief from NJ’s high property taxes - Burlington County Times

12/3/2018
Four ideas to bring relief from NJ’s high property taxes - Burlington County Times

Property taxes. They’re what New Jersey residents complain about most and the problem that no lawmaker seems able to find a way to address.
Read full story

Follow Us

About

The New Jersey Cooperator

NJCooperator.com is an online edition of The New Jersey Cooperator newspaper. The publication serves the New Jersey condo, HOA and co-op community with thousands of free articles on management, finance, maintenance and more...